Daly City pastor pleads not guilty to child molestation charges

REDWOOD CITY -- A Daly City pastor pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony child molestation charges in light of allegations he had inappropriate contact with a 9-year-old member of his congregation.

Ventje Cornelis Singkoh was arrested by Daly City police Aug. 13 after a 9-year-old girl told her parents the pastor sat her on his lap on multiple occasions and kissed her inappropriately, Assistant District Attorney Al Serrato said. He added the young member of San Francisco's Indonesian Pentecostal Foursquare Church didn't report the misconduct to her mother and father until it had been occurring for more than a year.

The victim said the molestation began in January 2013, with the last incident occurring Feb. 7 of this year, prosecutors said. Church officials held a meeting with several church members, the victim's parents and Singkoh, who denied the misconduct and deemed the behavior "an accident." Clergy members notified Child Protective Services, who called Daly City police when they learned some of the alleged incidents had occurred in his home. He was arrested without incident and taken to San Mateo County Jail.

In addition to his work at the Indonesian Pentecostal Foursquare Church at 18th Avenue and Geary Boulevard in San Francisco, Singkoh has also held services at the Golden Gate Christian Church at 378 18th Avenue, the First Presbyterian Church at 195 Colfax Street in Concord and at his home in Daly City, police Sgt. Harold Rolfes said. Church officials did not return calls for comment.

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Anyone who believes they have information about additional misconduct is asked to contact Daly City police Detective Ron Harrison at 650-991-8175.

Singkoh, who remains in custody on $300,000 bail, will return to court Sept. 24.